It is about time that people accepted the importance of safe medical abortion services

I am one of those people who is skeptical about the various contraceptive methods, mostly because of the side effects that come with them. I would say that this is how I ended up with an unplanned pregnancy. Of course I was not ready to have a second child at that time for reasons revolving around finances and being generally unwell at the time.

In times such as these, I have found friends to be really important because I told a friend who immediately referred me to an organization that supported me with the access to safe abortion. They were with me through the whole process so I would say it was pretty smooth. The process was very successful, though stressful and difficult for me in terms of transport costs since I stay outside of Kampala and the center which was in Kampala, led to me incurring extra costs in transport and renting out lodges where I stayed for the night. Other than that, the organization was very welcoming and they kept with me throughout the whole process.

I faced challenges with embracing my decision to terminate the pregnancy but I later realized that circumstances often compel us into making tough decisions.

I know many women who are tricked into motherhood. Some girls or women are discouraged by their partners from carrying out an abortion, but then later when they give birth, the very partners who actively discouraged them, refuse to take care of the children as they had promised. This means that they end up being unable to take care of themselves or the children as well.

In the beginning I was beset with anxiety and depression before carrying out the abortion, but after the abortion I felt very relieved. I got mild bleeding for a week but that was it. I didn’t need post care because it was a safe medical abortion that was successful. It did not harm my uterus in any way.

It is about time that people accepted that there is a need for safe medical abortion services. These services save the lives of countless women and girls. Many women are also aware that during the early stages of pregnancy, abortion is safe and possible if one follows the right process. What one needs is a trained medical practitioner or medically approved pills and it will be smooth and there will be no complications. I also believe that safe abortion services and post abortion care services are very important because women have a right to decide matters regarding their lives and their bodies. Matter of fact, it is a human right to have bodily autonomy. Access to safe abortion is also important because it prevents women from going for unsafe abortion methods which lead them to death.

I would like to see equal distribution and the services should be made accessible for all. They should make abortion pills available just like they have made the contraceptive pills and services available. I feel like even abortion pills are as vital as any other medicine. I feel good after this interview because sharing feels empowering to me as well and I believe that my story will impact the movement which will make me proud to know that I have done something to help.